Apostolic preterist

Apostolic preterist
Most people in the United States and some even abroad are looking forward to a future rapture of the church. I was one of those people. I loved trying to find out who the anti-Christ was and trying to figure out Revelation. Then a friend of mine who is also my aunt brought some tapes over that changed my life. At first I thought it was crazy and did not want to believe it, but the proof was overwhelming. The rapture doctrine has only been around since the 1830's. Every generation since then claim to be the last generation of Matthew 24. They also preach from the pulpits that God is coming any minute and then it doesn't happen. The truth is that Jesus said in Matthew 23:29-39 to the Pharisees and Sagasees to fill ye up the measure of your fathers. Here Jesus is talking about filling up the cup of blood that had been shed on the prophets. Then he says-”That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. It was the great whore of Rev who was guilty of all the blood shed on the earth. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.” He proceeds to tell the disciples in Matthew 24 what they were going to go through. Then he tells them that when ye (you) see the abomination of desolation. “spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place” He then tells those who are in Judea to flee. The whole scripture in Matthew 24 constantly says “ye” talking about the disciples and people standing there. What they would be going through and what they were going to see. He also told them that not one stone would be left upon another (talking about the temple) The problem is we have been taught that bible prophecy is for us. We look over all the “ye's” and make it be for us in the 21st century. Jesus said maybe a thousand times or more that he was coming quickly. Christians usually have never heard of the Jewish Roman war that took place exactly 40 years which was one generation from when Jesus died in 30 A.D. If you want to know what one generation is then look in the O T when the bible says that the Israelites wondered in the wilderness for one generation. When Jesus said in Matthew 24 this generation shall not pass away until all these things be fulfilled. Either he kept his word and came in their lifetime or he lied (and we know Jesus did not lie) When he said some of you will not taste of death until you see the son of man coming in the clouds he meant it. Read all the scriptures below and it will become obvious Jesus was coming in their lifetime. The problem is people do not know what coming in the clouds meant in bible prophecy. God came in the clouds many times in the old testament, but it wasn't literal. Read the article “coming in the clouds” on the left hand side for more examples. Clouds were symbolic for his presence and was always used for judgment. God said many a times that the stars and moon would turn dark or fall. Read the article I wrote on the left about it. Every time he came in the clouds it was for judgment against backslidden Israel or another nation. Read what Moses said. He taught them that there would be one generation that would be destroyed, that generation was the generation that killed Jesus, most of his disciples and lots of his saints. Jesus gave them from 30 A.D to 70 A.D one generation to repent. When they didn't repent he stirred up the Romans and others to destroy Jerusalem. This is how he came in the clouds in the old testament by stirring up another nations army to destroy and enslave others. He also came to rescue his saints from their persecutors by ending the law by fulfilling it, so that he could establish the new covenant. He said in Matthew that not one jot or one tittle of the law would pass away until heaven and earth (the law) had passed away and all things be fulfilled. This was speaking of all the old covenant prophecies. Heaven and earth in bible prophecy was symbolic for covenant. If that scripture was speaking of the literal heavens and earth that would mean we are still under the law, because the literal heaven and earth are still here.The great tribulation took place between 66 ½ and 70 A.D. The bible never talks about a 7 year tribulation. They get this from Daniel chapter 9. Most people teach that's a future covenant with the anti-Christ. Since when did messiah become anti-Christ in the bible? Jesus confirmed the new covenant message for 3 ½ years from when he was 30 to 33 ½ then he was cut off in the mist of Daniels 70th week. Then he gave them on generation to repent. The other 3 ½ years was the great tribulation then the 70th week of Daniel was fulfilled which said- “and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolation’s are determined.” If you want to understand more about Daniels 70th week look to the left and read the article on Daniels 70th week.
Lets focus on the imminent time frame that are in the scriptures. In the greek the word coming in these scriptures means coming to punish Jerusalem and finally the wicked.
• Matt. 10:23 - "Truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of
Israel until the Son of Man comes. "
• Matt. 16:28 - "Truly I say to you, there are some who are standing here who will
not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
• Matt. 24:34 - "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these
things take place." (Jesus' use of "this generation" throughout the gospels always
refers to his contemporaries: 26:36; 11:16; 12:39,41,42 and 45; Luke 11:50-51;
17:25; Mk 8:38)
• Matt. 26:64 - "You [the high priest] will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
of heaven. "

Mark 8:38 (NASB) "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." 9:1 And He was saying to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."
Matthew 16:27-28 (NKJV) "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
When you read mark 8:38 and 9:1 it is obvious that he is talking to the current group of contemporaries, which is what generation means. Notice in Mark it says “when he comes in the glory of his father with his angels.” Then read Matthew 16:27-28 and this says when he comes in the glory of his father...then it says he will reward each according to his works. Lots of people who are futurists try to say that Mark 8:38 is not talking about the 2nd coming, but when you compare it to Matthews exact scripture it says “when he comes to reward each” This does not heppen until the 2nd coming, proving that both Mark and Matthew are both saying that those that were standing there would not die until they saw God coming in the 2nd coming.
Matthew 24:34 (NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
Jesus said to Peter:

John 21:21-22 (NKJV) Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man

(John)?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
Paul said to the Roman Christians:

Romans 13:11-12 (NKJV) And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Romans 16:20 (NKJV) And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Paul said to the Corinthian Christians:
1 Corinthians 1:7-8 (NKJV) so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NKJV) But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV) Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Time references in the book of Revelation -
• 'tax-st, tachos and en tachei means "quickly, all at once, with all speed, without
delay."
o Revelation 1:1 - "...things which must shortly take place"
o Revelation 2: 16 - "Repent, or else I will come to you quickly"
o Revelation 3: 11 - "Behold, I come quickly!"
o Revelation 22:6 - "...things which must shortly take place."
o Revelation 22:7 - "Behold, I am coming quickly!"
o Revelation 22:12 - "Behold, I am coming quickly."
o Revelation 22:20 - "Surely I am coming quickly."
• eyyuc;, engus means "at hand, near"
o Revelation 1:3 - "The time is near."
o Revelation 22:10 - "The time is at hand."
• JlelJ...et, mello, mellei means "about to, on the point or verge of'
o Revelation 1:19 - "Write ... the things that are about to take place."
o Revelation 3: 10 - "... the hour of trial ... is about to come upon the whole
world."
There are other New Testament indications of a first-century return of Jesus:
.~
• Rom. 13: 11-12 - "You know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to
wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed;
the night is far gone, the day is at hand. "
• 1 Cor. 7:29-31 - "Brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now
on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn
as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not
rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal
with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the form of this world (the age of law keeping)
is passing away."
• 1 Cor. 10:11 - "On [us] the ends of the ages have come."
• Phil. 4:5 - "The Lord is at hand."
• James 5:8-9 - "The coming of the Lord is at hand .... Behold, the Judge is standing
at the door."
• 1 Pet. 4:7 - "The end of all things is at hand."
• 1 Jn. 2: 18 - "It is the last hour ... we know that it is the last hour."
It was also crystal clear that his coming was imminent and that Christ coming was going to be in that generation Matt 24:34. He gave the Jews one generation to repent of their sins. He gave them from the time he was crucified in 30 A.D until 70 A.D.

Read the parable the following parable, it's obvious that Jesus is referring to what was going to happen to him and his saints. And then at the end Jesus makes it clear it is referring to what was going to happened at the end in 70 A.D.
Matthew 22:1-3 And Jesus answered and spoke unto them again by parables, and said, 2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, (God) which made a marriage for his son(Jesus), 3And sent forth his servants (apostles) to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Matthew 22:4-10 Again, he sent fourth other servants (apostles), saying, tell them which are bidden, behold, I have prepared my dinner: Oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all the things are ready: Come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went there ways, one to his farm another to his merchandise and the remnant took his servants (apostles), and in treated them spitefully, and slew them, but when the king (God) heard there off, He was wroth: and he sent fourth his armies (Roman armies 70 A.D) and destroyed those murderers, and burned up there city (70 A.D destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Which there was no need for because no longer do we need the blood of bulls and goats but we have Jesus blood to wash away our sins). Then saith he to his servants (apostles) the wedding is ready, they (Jewish people who rejected Christ) which were bidden were not worthy go ye therefore unto the highways, and as many as ye shall find bid to the marriage. (Anyone who will accept Christ and repent be baptized and filled with the holy ghost can enter into a marriage relationship with Christ and be saved)
The marriage supper was already prepared before the destruction of Jerusalem, so the invitation to
the marriage feast was literally nothing more than the preaching of the gospel to the lost, which brings
a person into a marriage relationship with Jesus Christ under the New Covenant. The servants
destroyed were the apostles, so God destroyed Jerusalem.
They "gathered together" those who would come. This is the "gathering together of the elect" in
Matthew 24 Once Jerusalem and it's people who God was married to at Mt Sinai were destroyed in 70 A.D he was able to marry his new bride the church Jew and Gentile in one body. Those that accepted his new covenant and were saved. If you read in Revelation 19:17 God invites the birds to the great supper of the Lord, then in verse 18 he says that ye may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of captains and the flesh of mighty men. This proves the marriage supper was not a literal supper for the saints, but a parable. We know this supper for the birds took place in 70 A.D
Wheat and Tares
Matthew 13:23-30 & 36-40
23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man (Jesus) which sowed good seed (the gospel) in his field:
25But while men slept, his enemy (the devil) came and sowed tars(weeds which represent the wicked)among the wheat(represents Gods saints), and went his way.
26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares(the wicked), ye root up also the wheat(saints) with them.
30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares(the wicked), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world (Greek word age); and the reapers are the angels.
40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world (Greek word age)
Notice that like the story of the wedding feast the story of the wheat and the tares ends with the wicked being burned with fire. That is because at the end of their age in 70 A.D the wicked were burned and totally destroyed along with their city.
Notice also that the tares are taken (which represent the wicked) and are destroyed first which is the opposite teaching of a future rapture, where the church is supposedly taken first.
Last notice that God has the wheat(saints) and the tares(the wicked) grow up together until the harvest. This also is in contradiction to what futurists teach will happen in the future. They teach that the saints(wheat) are taken and then the wicked(tares) destroyed.
Most people say that the abomination of desolation is a future anti-Christ setting himself up in a future rebuilt temple as God. I challenge futurists to give me one scripture that says anything close to that. Here is what Lukes account of what the abomination of desolation was goig to be-
Luke 21:20-24 And when ye (you) shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (this was a warning to Gods people that when they would see the Roman armies to flee the city)
21Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter there into. (This was also a warning for the people during that time who were gong to be in Judea and in the field who were Christians to get out of there)
22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. ( Notice it says this land and not the whole world,and also notice it says this people not all people)
24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (this happened in 70A.D the time of the gentiles was the time God gave the gentiles to destroy Jerusalem.)
Read the article to the left by Pastor Smith- the abomination of desolation.